The Salty Master Salt

Ever heard the expression: "To sit above the salt?"

Back in the day, sitting "above the salt" meant you were sitting in an honored position between the host and the master salt.

This most important container, as salt was hard to obtain and very expensive, was placed in the center of the long dining table. Some "Master Salt" containers were, in very fancy households, sterling silver  outside with a cobalt bowl, and sterling silver feet like a bathtub. Salt is corrosive to silver, so explains the cobalt bowl.

The Host as the head of the table and family, always sat at the head of the table. As per tradition, the Guest of Honor was always placed to the right of the host.

So, if you were between the host at the head of the table and the master salt in the center of the table, you were "above the salt!"

Cheers!